Good solid fisheries management has created some great fishing opportunities for us here in the Santa Barbara Channel, both along the coast and in the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary. Species after species have been managed back to abundance and in their season, each species becomes readily available to us.
This is good, honest collaborative fisheries management and a classic example of that is an extremely tasty fish called white seabass, which is a member of the croaker family of fishes.
For decades now, anglers have paid extra on a fishing license add-on called an Ocean Enhancement Endorsement. Every ocean angler who buys a fishing license pays nearly six bucks and much of that money goes to fund a collaborative program to raise and release baby white seabass.
Hubbs Sea World Research Institute (HSWRI) has brood stock which make lots of baby white seabass. As the fish grown, ID tags are implanted. When they reach a certain size, they are trucked to grow-out pens up and down the coast and at Catalina Island.
The pens are maintained, and the little fish are fed and cared for through a collaboration with recreational anglers managed by Coastal Conservation Association – California Chapter (CCA-Cal). I serve on the state Board of Directors of CCA-Cal.
When the fingerlings reach a size where they stand a good chance of survival in the wild, the open-party fishing boat fleet crew and owners donate time and expenses to release the fish. They use nets to scoop the fish into the boats’ live bait tanks, then motor along the coast or the island and release fish here and there.
After decades of doing this, along with fisheries management tools like bag limits, minimum size limits and seasonal adjustments, we have a robust, thriving and breeding population of adult white seabass and we’ve learned that these things can get much bigger than we realized.
We have white seabass out there pushing 100 pounds and we fairly often catch them in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Bigger ones often bust tackle, leaving the angler wondering what just kicked his or her butt.
These fish roam in schools and when we get our big summertime squid spawns, the big croakers gather up and hungrily scarf up spawning squid like a big family of kids can scarf pizza. These scenarios are when we have our long-awaited opportunities to go out and catch one of the tastiest fish in the sea.
And now is the time, so excuse me, but I’m going fishing!
Addendum:
The fall term of SBCC’s Extended Learning Program starts the first week of September and I’ll be teaching two classes. One is on sharks of the Santa Barbara Channel and I’m excited because we all love and fear sharks by nature. Let’s explore that and learn about sharks for appreciation, avoiding dangerous encounters and what to do about shark bites. The class starts at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the Wake Center on Turnpike Road.
To sign up for this fee-based class, go to https://sbcc.augusoft.net/ and tap on Click to Register. Registering will give you a student ID number; keep that number because it will allow you to register for the class.
After registering, find the search box and enter 23055, which is the class ID. The search takes you to a page where you can sign up. If you are already registered in the system, just login and search for the class ID, 23055.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
